Q. What budget do I need for a good house?
For a small but nice concrete house (such as in a development with many identical units, between 1 and 3 million pesos). For a fairly nice detached house without a view or pool, between 3 and 6 million. For a multi-bathroom house with a view or a pool, more than 6 million (usually a lot more). 10 million pesos ($200,000) will get you a pretty luxurious house. 15 million or higher and you are already talking about a mansion.
Note that you will be paying more for the same house if it is located in one of the luxury subdivisions in the Lahug, Banilad, and Talamban area, than if it is located in (for example) Guadalupe, Mactan, or Consolacion, simply because of the brand name value associated with the subdivision.
The cheapest way to get a really nice house is to buy just the land and have it built yourself.
